A MAN from County Durham accused of stealing a priceless first edition work of Shakespeare arrived at court dressed in Highland tartan.

Raymond Scott, who claims to be distantly related to Bonnie Prince Charlie, faced a judge at Durham Crown Court dressed in a kilt of Royal Stewart tartan, a Harris tweed jacket, cravat and a pair of limited edition £1,000 Fendi sunglasses.

The eccentric antique book dealer, who faces charges relating to the theft of a Shakespeare first folio that went missing from Durham University Library more than ten years ago, answered ``aye, that I am“ to questions from the judge.

He then gazed, with his head tipped back, at the ceiling lights as his lawyer discussed a date to fix his trial.

Scott, 52, faces a total of eight charges including stealing the book, and an alternative charge of handling stolen goods. He will face trial next summer, when expert witnesses from the United States and Cuba will be called to give evidence by video link.

Scott, of Sandford Close, Wingate, was arrested after he walked into the world renowned Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC with a Shakespeare first folio, claiming to have discovered it in Cuba where he has a fiancee, Heidy Garcia Rios. Durham Police, however, were tipped off about his visit by the FBI.

Detectives believe the book is the same multi-million pound copy which was stolen from Durham University Library in December 1998.

The missing anthology, printed in 1623, seven years after the bard’s death, is described as ``the most important printed book in the English language“ and was among a number of manuscripts taken from Durham in the raid.

It is believed the book, the definitive collection of Shakespeare plays on which most subsequent editions are based, would have a market value of at least £15 million if it was ever sold.

Scott travelled to court in a horse drawn carriage led by a Scots piper, who played Scotland the Brave.